title: Binding of peanut lectin to germinal-centre cells: a marker for B-cell subsets of follicular lymphoma?
abstract: The binding of horseradish-peroxidase-labelled peanut lectin (HRP-PNL) to cryostat sections of tonsil, lymphoma lymph nodes, reactive lymph nodes and miscellaneous tumours demonstrated that PNL binds selectively to lymphocytes in germinal centres. Lymph nodes from 21 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphomas were phenotyped as cell suspensions for PNL binding, and the following surface markers: E rosetting, C3d, SIg, OK markers of T-cell subsets, Ig heavy-chain and light-chain classes. There was a positive correlation between PNL binding and cells with SIg and C3d receptors. 4/5 cases of centroblastic/centrocytic follicular lymphoma had a PNL+ SIg+ C3d+ phenotype. Both cases of centroblastic/centrocytic diffuse lymphoma were PNL-. There was no correlation between PNL binding and heavy- or light-chain Ig class. PNL binding and presence of C3d receptors were not always positively correlated, indicating that follicular cells may be either PNL+ SIg+ C3d+ or PNL+ SIg+ C3d-. The binding pattern of PNL to 1 case of thymic hyperplasia and 2 cases of malignant lymphoma lymphoblastic T type suggested that some but not all cortical thymocytes bind PNL.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D010367:Arachis; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate; D005452:Fluoresceins; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase; D006801:Humans; D037102:Lectins / Q000276:immunology*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000276:immunology; D010641:Phenotype; D037121:Plant Lectins; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000032:analysis; D013861:Thiocyanates
chemical_list: D005452:Fluoresceins; D037102:Lectins; D037121:Plant Lectins; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D013861:Thiocyanates; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate